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Sunday, 29 May 2016

Joining me this week to share their book corner is author Denise Deegan...

1) Tell us about your Book Corner/Writing Space?

In my mind, my writing space is tucked away in an ancient tower on the top of an Italian mountain with wispy clouds floating outside my window and light pouring in. In reality, it is on the dining room table – a fine table it has to be said – but in the middle of LIFE – everyone’s life. Including a dog that snores. Last week, I finished a Young Adult horror, killing characters to the sound of very loud choral music. So you can see why I dream of turrets on Italian mountains.

2) Do you have a favourite shelf/collection of books? Or favourite part of your Book Corner?

I go through various obsessions. Feng Shui was one of them. And so… no book shelves. I do have a cupboard that contains my absolute favouites, but only the ones I just can’t part with: Twelve, A Girl’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing, Never Let Me Go, I’m Not Afraid, It’s Kind of a Funny Story, Notes on a Scandal. No more than fifteen. I read a lot of ebooks now – they’re so easy to access, carry around, store, revisit.

3) Do you have any reading/writing habits?

I possibly spend too much time writing and not enough time reading. My ideal day is spent writing – as soon as everyone else has left for the day and I’ve walked the dog. My ideal evening would be spent reading but, again, this thing called LIFE…. Stories are my life but movies are easier to share with familly. Whatever my day, though, I do tend to fall asleep reading – usually late into the night.

4) How do you keep apart, track and control your TBR to read books?

I’ve never been good at control.

5) Thank you for coming on today Denise, finally please can you provide links to your social media handles please?

I write under two names: Denise Deegan for YA fiction, Aimee Alexander for women’s fiction.

Friday, 27 May 2016

Sophie's got used to being the girlfriend of Billy Buskin, the biggest movie star in the world. Sort of.

But when she and Billy take a trip to visit his family in Los Angeles, she quickly discovers she's totally unprepared for the chaos of Hollywood, the paparazzi and Billy's controlling mother.

And when Billy extends his stay in LA, leaving Sophie to fly home to Rosefont Hill alone, it seems there's more than just miles between them.

Now Sophie must decide if they can overcome their differences for good. Because not every love story lasts the distance.

It doesn't take a genius reading my social media links to confirm that I'm a big fan of Giovanna Fletcher, and it's safe to say I've been excited for her latest novel since it was announced she was writing it.

I'll be honest, as excited I was, there was some apprehension too. I had various questions circling my brain on how Billy and Sophie's story could be brought forward, and there is always the worry that sequels just don't live up to expectations of the first book.

Well, I started Always With Love and I finished Always With Love.

Straight through.

Once sitting.

Start to Finish.

Who needs to get out of their PJ's and brush their hair on a bank holiday anyway?!

Always With Love is broken in to four parts, the first being just after Christmas and see's Sophie and Billy heading to LA to spend New Year with the Buskin clan - please don't worry about this being a festive novel, it's not in any way and is only referenced as being the time of year.

The first few chapters had me wondering where the book was going, I found there quite a few re-caps to how the pair met and how they had got to the point they were out.

At a push, I guess you could read Always With Love as a stand alone book but there is so much more to the story that I really would urge to your read both Billy and Me and Christmas with Billy and Me first to really get an understanding of the wonderful characters Giovanna has created.

If you have read the previous stories, you will be aware that Billy has taken a break from acting, but as we get to know his side of the family more in Always With Love, it is clear that his mother is concerned about him settling down too quickly and neglecting his career. A series of event's leads to Sophie returning to Rosefont Hill alone, whilst Billy remains in LA taking up a massive film role.

Parts 2 and 3 of the book see a lot of happening, and Giovanna cleverly moves the story forward ensuring that it flows perfectly. At the return of Molly's son, Peter, I had a slight concern that that there would be a repetitive story line of the papers creating something out of nothing, testing Billy and Sophie's relationship once again, but Giovanna kept it fresh and interesting.

One of the main sub plots of the book is the upcoming nuptials of Sophie's mum and Colin, which comes to ahead in part 4, and it was lovely to see how much the characters had moved on - Little Charlotte is a gem of a character and really gained a personality in this story.

Alongside Sophie and Billy coping with being apart, which is the main focus of the book, I felt we saw a really big change in Sophie. Her character becomes more focused and responsibly.. I suppose you could say we saw her grow up a bit.

Always With Love was a great read, and even though there are issues and problems for the couple along the way, for me the heart of the story is a warming one about moving on, letting go, new beginnings and finding yourself.

I found it gloriously romantic with the letters Sophie and Billy used to communicate with whilst miles apart.

Told in the narrative of Sophie, Giovanna never fails to tell a romantic love story that you can't help but smile along too. It was full of emotion, with equal measures of humour and laughter.

And that ending....?

Just leads me to say, I can't wait to see what happens next in Sophie and Billy's world!

Rating: 5/5

I would like to thank the team at Michael Joseph for providing me with an advanced copy of

Fall in love with the gorgeous seaside town of White Cliff Bay this summer and enjoy long sunny days, beautiful beaches and… a little romance.

Darcy Davenport is ready for a fresh start. Determined to leave a string of disastrous jobs and relationships behind her, she can’t wait to explore White Cliff Bay and meet the locals.

When Darcy swims in the crystal clear waters of the bay, she discovers the charming Rose Island Lighthouse. But it’s not just the beautiful building that she finds so intriguing…

Riley Eddison doesn’t want change. Desperate to escape the memories of his past, he lives a life of solitude in the lighthouse. Yet he can’t help but notice the gorgeous woman who swims out to his island one day.

Darcy is drawn to the mysterious and sexy Riley, but when it seems the town is trying to demolish his home, she soon finds herself having to pick sides.

She’s fallen in love with White Cliff Bay. But is that all Darcy’s fallen for?

Pull up a deck chair, sink back with a bowl of strawberry ice cream and pick up the summer read you won’t be able to put down.

I feel like I have been waiting for ages for the third instalment of Holly Martin's White Cliff Bay series. I loved Penny and Henry's story in Christmas At Lilac Cottage and discovering the area more with Libby and George in Snowflakes On Silver Cover but I was excited to see the fictional village way from the snow and storms of the winter weather.

With a romantic story, gorgeous settings and plenty of humour, Summer at Rose Island certainly lived up to my expectations.

I don't want to give too much of Darcy's story away but I will say I completely felt sorry for this character - everything she has done she has been made to feel a complete failure so it's no surprising that she decided to move to White Cliff Bay, a place she fell in love with at a young age when she used to holiday and stay with her beloved Aunt Ginny.

With some free time before starting her job at the local council, Darcy dives into the waters surrounding Rose Island with her dog, Ben.

Very quickly both Darcy and the reader are introduced to the lighthouse keeper, Riley - a grumpy American at first glance but over the course of the book, Darcy discovers there is more to this man and falls for him fast!

Whilst Darcy was friendly and chatty, Riley wasn't and had shut himself off from the rest of the villagers, but as their relationship grew, It was great to see their characters change and develop.

Of course all good love stories have a glitch in there somewhere and whilst my suspicions were right about Darcy's new job and the role linking to Riley and the lighthouse, their story was one I simply couldn't put down and even through some of their rocky scenes and more serious conversations I found myself laughing out loud.

Other than the love interest, there is a fairly big story line involving the lighthouse (along with a few smaller plots) and it is incredibly clear how much research was done on this and Darcy's career as the book was very informative but without giving you brain overload!

Holly Martin never fails to capture the reader, I was utterly sucked in to the book right from the opening page and when I wasn't reading Summer At Rose Island - I was thinking about it!!

One of my first thoughts on the book was 'Disney's The Little Mermaid for Grown Ups' - and that theme continued throughout the book.

It was magical and captivating yet with a realistic feel.

Although this book could quite easily be read as a standalone novel, I loved the fact that I had read the previous two as not only were some of the landmarks familiar there were mentions of Libby, George, Penny and Henry too which gave hints as to where they are and what they are up to now but at the same time Rose Island brought new discoveries keeping it fresh, interesting and exciting.

I really hope that there is more to come from the White Cliff Bay series - I've loved all three and can't recommend them enough.

Rating 5/5

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC of

Summer At Rose Island.

This is my honest opinion.

Make sure you grab a copy of books 1 and 2 from the White Cliff Bay series..

Holly has been writing for six years. She was shortlisted for the New Talent Award

at the Festival of Romance. Her short story won the Sunlounger competition and

was published in the Sunlounger anthology. She won the Carina Valentine&#39;s

competition at the Festival of Romance 2013 with her novel The Guestbook. She

was shortlisted for Best Romantic Read, Best eBook and Innovation in Romantic

Wednesday, 25 May 2016

Today is my stop on the blog tour for Ellen Faith's new book, Perfume and Promises. When Emma from Star Crossed Tours asked me if I had any subjects that Ellen could cover for her Guest Post, it only seemed right to do something on either perfumes or promises - with without further ado, please read on for Ellen's top ten perfumes! I'd love to know what your favourite scent to wear is, please let me know in the comments.

Chloe Richards is a small town girl with a big heart. At least, that’s what the local folk of

Rosehip Village think. But when her parents turn up on her doorstep asking for help, her secret

past is about to be revealed.

Being the daughter of Hollywood royalty was never going to be easy, but at 19, Chloe Richards

managed to leave that life behind along with the scandals that almost destroyed her. A fresh

start was all she needed, and a fresh start was what she got in Rosehip. Girlfriend of a local

bookshop owner, best friends with fiercely loyal café owner and owner of a perfume business

herself, Chloe has a happy life. But her parents are about to turn her perfect life on its head.

Again.

What do you do when you’re torn between loyalty and protecting yourself? Should you trust

My Book Corner is a feature I usually run on Sundays here at Lozza's Book Corner, so today I have a special treat for you.

Penny Parkes is a lovely author - I know as I met her back in March at the Spring Blogger Evening - so when she asked to come on the blog near her publication date I was more than happy to make an exception!

1) Tell us about your Book Corner/Writing Space?

Although I have a lovely desk, it's covered in paperwork more often that not , so I mostly migrate to the sofa with my laptop on my knees and The Ancient Spaniel beside me. I can actually write for much longer if I’m relaxed and comfortable and have a ready supply of caffeine. Then I can disappear off to my fictional town of Larkford for hours on end and often have to set an alarm to remind me to do the school run!

2) Do you have a favourite shelf/collection of books? Or favourite part of your Book Corner?

I have a shelf in my bedroom where I put a selection of my favourites - books I can return to again and again and still feel transported and inspired. Marian Keyes, Jane Fallon and Jilly Cooper are almost timeless in their humour and wry observation and never fail to give me a lift.

3) Do you have any reading/writing habits?

During term-time, I try to balance my day - writing all morning and then doing something completely different for an hour or so - swimming, walking, driving - these are the times, when my mind is in neutral, that the ideas begin to take shape and plotlines fall into place - I can then spend the afternoon putting it all together. Lines of dialogue and ideas get jotted down everywhere and I get through an awful lot of Post-its!

4) How do you keep apart, track and control your TBR to read books?

I have a TBR pile (okay two, because the first one got precarious) by the side of my bed… I try and read paperbacks wherever I can and save the Kindle for holidays and travelling. If I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading something - to the point that I feel really sad it’s over - then I will read from a different genre next, so I don’t dilute the characters in my mind. For that reason, my TBR pile is kind of eclectic.

5) Can you provide links to your social media handles please?

You can find me on Twitter as@Cotswoldpennyand on Facebook asPennyParkesWrites.

Sunday, 22 May 2016

Today I'm delighted to be joined by fellow blogger and book lover, Rebecca Minton, to share her reading and writing secrets!

Tell us about your Book Corner/Writing Space?

My reading ‘corner’ is my bed. My bed is in the corner of my room, so I’ll get loads of pillows and make a little ‘nest’ in the corner get all snugly and comfy, and then goodbye world! It’s just so warm and comfy, I’m facing my bedroom window too so it’s perfect for lighting, against the radiator! It’s literal bliss. Usually within 5 minutes I’m joined my a small cat to stroke as well. Or shove his face in my book, both works.

Do you have a favourite shelf/collection of books? Or favourite part of your Book Corner?

Yes! My fave shelves are all my favourite YA and must read soon YA like The Lunar Chronicles, The Mortal Instruments, Twilight etc… They’re just there pride of place. And above are my Original Harry Potters and the new Children’s Paperbacks Andy got me for christmas, which are joined by my limited edition Harry Potter Gringotts coins and some other HP merch!

Do you have any reading/writing habits?

Erm no? Not really. I generally read when I can, which 9 times out of 10 is before I got to sleep or Sundays she the bike racing is on and Andy is quiet ;). So reading is my sacred time so I try to at least get something in everyday, even if it’s just a chapter. I aim for one book a week if I can, sometimes I just can’t do it because I’m usually tackling a headache, but hopefully with new glasses and less headaches I’ll get more in!

How do you keep apart, track and control your TBR to read books?

Control? What is this you speak of? I have no control whatsoever of my TBR. I have them on my bookshelves with books I HAVE read. But I have a monthly TBR pile of usually 4 books on my bedside table. So thats about as much control as I have right now.

When it comes to tracking it, also no control whatsoever! I have a TBR jar of books I want to read of my own books, and I *try* to keep my ARCS in pub date order if I can! Bad blogger me.

They call it Keepsake, a place full of wonder ... and danger. Locked inside the crumbling elegance of its walls lies the story of the Butterfly Summer, a story you've been waiting all your life to hear.

This house is Nina Parr's birthright. It holds the truth about her family - and a chance to put everything right at last.

The Butterfly Summer is the first novel I've read by Harriet Evans. In all honesty, the blurb alone confirmed that this isn't the type of book that I would normally read but I decided to give it a go anyway as there was something intriguing about it.

The book tells us the story of Nina Parr, who's father died when she was little. She grew up knowing next to nothing about her father, until one day she bumps into an old lady in the library who seems to know a lot about her. This leads to Nina trying to discover her past, and soon enough, everything she thought she knew starts to unravel in front of her.

The Butterfly Summer is written from two perspectives: Nina's, and her grandmother Teddy's, therefore going back and forth in time. It is Teddy's story that is most intriguing, as we find out about Keepsake and the tragic and disturbing history surrounding the house, although Nina's perspective is far more readable and concise. It's difficult to talk too much about the story without spoiling anything, but whilst the book feels rather stilted at the beginning, slowly but surely it becomes clearer how the two stories are intertwined.

To be honest, I struggled with The Butterfly Summer to begin with. It took me a while to get into the flow of the book, especially as it is written from two perspectives. I found myself plodding along through the first part, wondering if I would ever make it through the book. However, things definitely picked up from the second part onwards and I managed to devour the rest whilst on a train journey.

The concept of the book was very interesting however, at times I felt that it was a bit long winded. There were plenty of twists and turns which kept the latter half, in particular, interesting, although I do believe that there were a couple of unnecessary twists in the book which didn't add anything.

One of the best things about the book was seeing the links develop between the characters as the story went on. Whilst it was confusing at the beginning to place each character, they were all very carefully woven into the story and some connections we very clever. I did find myself working out some mysteries as the book went on however, there was still an element of surprise.

There was a lot of intricate detailing to the story - from the vivid descriptions of Keepsake, to the character connections, it's clear to see that Harriet Evans has put a lot of thought into laying out The Butterfly Summer. The book also covers a wide variety of topics, including the war, the London riots, failed relationships, family secrets, deception and a few others that I won't mention as they might spoil the suspense!

I wish that I could say that I loved this book, but unfortunately I didn't. Once I got into the book, the pace definitely picked up and I found myself enjoying it more but I didn't feel that the story impacted on me as much as it should have. I'm putting this down to the fact that it's not my usual genre of book, however, I am glad that I persevered with it. If you enjoy novels with family history at the heart of it, then it's worth giving The Butterfly Summer a go.